ClueBy
TodayArchiveWord list

Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
YesNo
↻ New worksheet

Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  20. He was locked up in a ________________.
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. cell — a phone
  2. track — a song
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. board — a committee
  6. cell — in biology
  7. object — a thing
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. object — an aim
  10. current — electric
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. track — a path
  13. track — to keep track
  14. object — to protest
  15. current — happening now
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. face — to confront
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. face — part of the head
  20. cell — in a prison
  21. face — to point toward
  22. current — of water
  23. perch — the fish
  24. board — to get on

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com